AJISS-Commentary
The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies
IIPS

RIPSInstitute for International

The Japan Institute ofResearch Institute for

Policy Studies

International Affairs

Peace and Security

Editorial Advisory Board:

200th Special Issue

Akio Watanabe (Chair)
Masashi Nishihara
Yoshiji Nogami
Taizo Yakushiji

31 July 2014

Editorial Committee:

ENABLING JAPAN TO FURTHERCONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE AND
STABILITY OF THE REGION AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Taizo Yakushiji
Hisayoshi Ina
Tsutomu Kikuchi
Shujiro Urata andToshiro Iijima
Editor & Online Publisher:
Yoshji Nogami
President, JIIA

Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan
This month, the Cabinet decided on the basic
policies on the development of security legislation.
AJISS-Commentary seeks to provide its readershipof experts and policymakers with informing andengaging discussion on Japan’s diplomacy andsecurity issues, as well as on the internationalsituation in general. As AJISS-Commentary marksits 200th edition, I would like to share somethoughts with readers on the recent Cabinet
Decision regarding why this kind of security
legislation needs to be developed, what we will dogoing forward, and how we will undertake thesesteps.

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The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies

Why? The backgroundWhy is it now imperative for us to develop this kind of security legislation?
We have seen a fundamental transformation of the global security
environment, and this transformation continues to evolve even today. Since theend of the Cold War, there have been changes in the global power balance andtechnological innovation has developed rapidly while new transnational threats
are increasing. These include the development and proliferation of weapons ofmass destruction and ballistic missiles, cyber-attacks, and international terrorism.
Threats now move across borders with ease. This is not a situation unique toJapan—we are living in an age when no country can individually secure its ownpeace.
In Cambodia, in the Golan Heights, in Haiti, and in providing
reconstruction assistance in Iraq and other places around the world, thus far as
many as 50,000 young personnel of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) haveparticipated in United Nations peacekeeping operations and other international
peace cooperation activities. In the wake of the damage from the violent typhoonthat struck the Philippines last year, some 1,300 personnel of the SDF wereengaged in providing emergency assistance. Moreover, at this very moment,
some personnel of the SDF are protecting the world’s ships from pirates in theGulf of Aden while others are hard at work supporting South Sudan in becoming
self-reliant. They are a source of great pride for me. There is no doubt in mymind that each individual activity like these contributes to the stability of both theregion in which it takes place and the world.
Japan’s security policy had long been inward-looking. However, I believethat if we wish for world peace, then Japan must dynamically adapt, responding
to changes in the times. Japan will contribute even more proactively to the peaceand stability of the international community, hand in hand with those countries
with which we share the fundamental values of freedom and democracy, basic
human rights, and the rule of law, and hand in hand with the international
community as a whole. I raised this ardent determination of Japan aloft as a newbanner of our “Proactive Contribution to Peace” within the National Security
Strategy that Japan adopted for the first time last year.
Moving beyond such efforts as these, we will now develop security
legislation that enables us to respond more seamlessly to any possible situation.
Resolutely securing the lives and peaceful daily lives of the Japanese people
under any circumstances is the tremendous responsibility conferred upon me as
Prime Minister. In taking all possible preparations by means of this new security
legislation, we are enhancing our deterrence and averting conflict before it
happens. In this way we will make the peace and stability of Japan and theregion even more certain.

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The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies

Things that will not change
Some people may think these measures mean that Japan will again
become a country that would wage war. However, this is a complete
misunderstanding. Such a thing will never happen.
Since the end of World War II, based on deep remorse, Japan has built up
a society that values freedom, democracy, and basic human rights and respects
the rule of law, and has followed the path of a peace-loving nation for almost 70years. That is a path from which we will never waver. Even into the future, Japan
will not become a military power that poses threats to other countries. Neither
does the recent Cabinet Decision mean that there has been any change
whatsoever to the Government’s observance of international law, including theCharter of the United Nations, nor to our basic principles relating to theConstitution of Japan. The horrors of war must never be repeated. I wish to state
here once again that there is no doubt whatsoever about Japan’s determinationin that regard.
I have already visited 47 countries in the one year and eight months since
I took office as Prime Minister. I never fail to maintain that Japan attaches great
importance to the rule of law, and I have received strong support for thiseverywhere I go. Any and all disputes must be resolved diplomatically andpeacefully on the basis of international law. Diplomacy is the basic means ofmaintaining and promoting the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region andthe world. Japan will continue to work proactively towards that end.
What changes will be implemented?
With that in mind, what does Japan seek to change through this Cabinet
Decision?
First, in dealing with situations that are neither pure peacetime nor
contingencies, in order to secure the lives and peaceful daily lives of theJapanese people, Japan will further reinforce all necessary measures and also
make it possible to protect vessels and other weapons and equipment of U.S.
Forces that are engaged in activities which contribute to the defense of Japan incooperation with the Self-Defense Forces.
The changes will enable Japan to make a greater and more proactive
contribution to international peace in cooperation with other countries when
Japan participates in international peace cooperation activities and otheractivities. In past cases when the international community has united to addressa situation in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution, Japan has only
been able to provide limited assistance to the forces of other nations engaged inoperations. Coming legislation will enable Japan to engage in a wider range ofsupport to those operations.

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Furthermore, given the increasing importance of protecting civilians andsecuring law and order in areas of missions by U.N. peacekeeping operations,
new legislation will be developed to enable the necessary “use of weapons forthe execution of missions,” including for the protection of U.N. and othercountries’ personnel; as well as civilians working for international organizations,aid agencies, and non-governmental organizations who have come under attack.
Although Japan has already participated in international peace cooperation
activities for more than 20 years, these new measures will enable Japan tocooperate with the international community even more proactively.
In addition, the “use of force” has been considered acceptable solely incases in which Japan comes under an armed attack. However, taking into
account the above-mentioned dramatic shift of the security environment, evenan armed attack upon other countries, depending on its purpose, scale, mannerand so on, could entail a threat to Japan’s survival. Recognizing such criticalissues, within the basic logic of the existing constitutional interpretation, in cases
in which an armed attack against a foreign country that is in a close relationshipwith Japan occurs and, as a result, threatens Japan’s survival and poses a clear
danger to fundamentally overturning people’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuitof happiness, and when there are no other appropriate means available, theGovernment will make it possible for it to conduct the use of force to theminimum extent necessary as self-defense measures. Suppose for example thatduring a contingency arising near Japan, a U.S. vessel carrying evacuating
Japanese nationals were to be attacked. Until now, Japan has been unable toprotect such a vessel, but that will become possible in the future. This change
will help intensify the relationship of trust within the Japan-U.S. alliance whilestrengthening our deterrence and enhancing the ability to maintain peace in theregion as well as the peace of Japan.
The measures to be implemented are designed to enable the “ProactiveContribution to Peace” by Japan, thoroughly protecting Japan and the Japanesepeople while contributing even more proactively to the peace and stability of theregion and the international community.
How will the changes be implemented?
Japan’s “Proactive Contribution to Peace” will not achieve success unless
Japan works hand in hand with the international community. For that reason, it isof the utmost importance to ensure that other countries correctly understand ourobjectives regarding these new measures to be taken. The Government ofJapan has been explaining this security policy, including the Cabinet Decision, toother countries including Japan’s neighbors carefully and with a high degree oftransparency, and many countries have expressed their understanding andsupport. I believe that this is because of the trust that many countries around the

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world have towards the path that Japan has followed as a peace-loving nation
throughout the post-war period and our achievements in that context, andbecause they regard the recent Cabinet Decision as an extension of thoseefforts and accomplishments. As we go forward, I will continue to provide theinternational community with sincere explanations of Japan’s approach. I hopethat this paper helps to deepen understanding within the international community
regarding the Cabinet Decision.

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